Gas control means



. 6, 1949 K. 'r. bAvls' GAS CONTROL mums 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10,1948 MM m0 r. H R n Dec. 6, 1949 K. 'r. DAVIS 2,490,420

GAS CONTROL mums Filed Feb. 10, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. KEITH xDAV/.5

BY 'FW 02. W7

Patented Dec. 6, 1949 GAS CONTROL MEANS Keith. '1. Davis, Cleveland,hio,'assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Aiilliated Gas Equipment, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio, acorporation of Delaware Application February 10, 1948, Serial No. 7,462

Claims. 1

This invention relates to gas fuel control means A for heating systemswherein a heating device burner has operation responsive to a conditionsuch as temperature within a space to receive heat from operation o1 thehuman An object of the invention is to arrange a single valve forimmediate control of the burner operation, with provision that, in aheating cycle, the

valveis first fully opened responsive to one condition such as a callfor heat at a certain temperature, and thereafter the valve willpartially close to provide throttling effect upon the burner, withconsequent reduced rate of heat output therefrom until another conditionsuch as a slightly higher temperature, is satisfied.

Other objects are to accomplish the above with the fewest and simplestparts, employing insofar as possible units which'are well known in theart and readily obtainable as practically standardized units therein.

More particular objects are to provide a simple circuit employing suchunits for the purpose described, together with a main valve of simplenovel construction for employment in such circult to the ends described.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, whereinFig. 1 is a conventionalized and-diagrammatic view showing pertinentdetails of construction of certain units, together with an elementarycir; cuit by which the units are interrelated; the parts being designedfor control of a gas burner subject to room temperature, and appearingin the figure asin o position wherein the thermostat indicated issatisfied and gas supply is cut off from the burner by the mainvalveappearing;

Fig. 2 is a view including certain of the parts appearing in Fig. 1, butindicating its parts as in "on position; and I Fig. 3 is a view similarto Fig. 2 but showin the parts as in throttling position.

In all of the drawings arrows indicate either flow or presence ordirection of pressure.

With reference now to the drawings, A indicates generally main gas valvemeans, 13 motorized valve means, and C room thermostat means.

The main valve A includes a body i with inlet and outlet openings forconnections from gas supply and to the burner means to be controlled, asindicated in the drawing. The body means has a port 2 eilective betweenits inlet and outlet openings, and thereabove a chamber with a movablewall portion 3 here shown as in the form of a diaphragm and carrying themain valve arranged to close the port 2 responsive to pressure withinthe chamber. 7 V

The motorized valve means B includes a valve 4 having connection 5 fromthe gas supply line,

a connection 8 to the diaphragm chamber of the maingas valve A, and anexhaust connection I which may lead to a vent or flare pilot not shown.The arrangement is such that when the valve 4 is in the "01! positionindicated in Fig. 1, the

chamber of the main valve A will be subject to line-gas pressure by wayof the connections 5 and 8, and the vent connection I will be closed:whereas when the valve 4 is in "on position as indicated in Figs. 2 and3, gas supply will be cut off from the chamber of the main gas valve A,and the latter will be relieved of its pressure, by way of theconnections 6 and 'i so that the main valve is permitted to open, asindicated Fig. 2. under line-gas pressure.

For motorization of the valve 4, any suitable device may be employed,here conventionally indicated as by the electrical coil 9, arranged forenergization to position the valve 4 as in Figs. 2 and 3, and whende-energized to position the valve 4 as in Fig. 1. Motorized valvessuitable.

for the purpose are well known in the art. one being shown at Fig. 5 inPatent No. 2,098,883,

. issued November 9, 1937, to Furlong.

Switch means i0 is associated with the motorizing means 9 for the valve4 to have closed-or energizing position coincident with energization ofthe valve 4 to open position: such arrangement also being wellknown inthe art and an example thereof illustrated in detail in the patent aboveidentified.

The parts thus far described have circuit forming interconnections asfollows: A line w, in-' cluding a source of power such as thetransformer D, interconnects the contactor I! of the room thermostat Cwith one end of the motor 9 of the valve 4. A line b connects the otherroom thermostat contact H with the other end of the well known in theart as will be appreciated by one familiar therewith, and has operationas follows:

Commencing with the parts as in Fig. 1, the room thermostat C issatisfied, both its contacts II and I: are open, the motorized valve 3is deenergized, the chamber of the main gas valve A is at line-gaspressure to maintain the valve closed, and no how of gas is had to theburner.

As the room temperature drops, the thermostat C willlmake contact firstat I! and then at H. Contact made at l2 effects no immediate result, butupon contact at Ii, the motor 9 of the motorized valve 4 will beenergized by a circuit including the transformer D, contacts l2 and ii,

line b, through the motor 9, andvbacls to the transformer by line :0.

Energization of the motorized valve 13 moves .valve 4 to the position ofFig. 2, relieving pressure within the chamber of the main gas valve Aand permitting the latter to open under main gas pressure and allow flowto the burner.

Continued operation of the burner eventually raises the'temperature inthe space to be heated until the thermostat C reopens contact at H.However, main burner operation continues because of the switch II, whichclosed coincidently with energization of the motor 9, and the line rwhich provides alternate return connection to the thermostat, in holdingcircuit relation to the line b which is now dead.

On further rise in its temperature, the thermostat opens contact at if,the motorized-valve 4 is de-energized, and admission of, gas to thechamber of the valve A closes the gas supply to the burner.

. ber eilective throughout the area of its diaphragm 3 is greater thanthe total pressure tend ing to open it, on the opposite face of thediaphragm 3 about the port'l. Similarly, when the valve is open it haseffectively. line-gas pressure throughout its area on its port sideopposed only by atmospheric pressure on its chamber side. Thus the maingas valve, so far as hereinbefore described, has merely two positions:either fully closed as in Fig. 1.or fully open as in Fig. 2.

According to this invention I provide a third, partially open positionfor the main gas valve whereby throttling eifect upon the burner is had,as indicated Fig. 3: and arrange further for control of the valve tosuch throttling position.

For the purpose, as to the main valve A, I arrange a movable partitionwall or diaphragm H .to divide its diaphragm chamber into a pair ofsubchambers including a near subchamber Ii partially bounded by the maindiaphragm 3, and a far subchamber "separated from the diaphragm 3 by thepartition [4.

Theconnection 8 from the motorized valve means 4,communicatesimmediately with the far subchamber ",and in order to transmit, closinggas pressure to the diaphragm 3 the partition wall I4 is provided with acentral aperture il in a suitably arranged boss 18 carried by thepartition wall:

To permitpressure within the near subchamber it without pressure in thefar subchamber It, I provide a seat it against which the boss i8 maybear to close the aperture II.

To locate the diaphragm I in throttling position by means of thepartition wall [4 when the boss I4 is seated to close the aperture I'I,without preventing full valve opening movement of the diaphragm I whenpressure is relieved within the subchamber I5. I provide a lost motionconof pressure, the body means of the valve A is laterally apertured fora connection 2i leading back to the gas supply, by way of an auxiliaryvalve E.

' The valve E, as indicated in the drawings. is

maintained yieldably closed by a spring 22,

against which it may be opened by a plunger 23 acting through a sealingdiaphragm 24.

For opening of the valve E, subject to control of the room thermostat C,remotely controlled motor means are provided, here indicated as by aheating coil II eiie'c'tive upon a bimetallic blade 26 which in turncarries the plunger 23; the coil 25 being in circuit in the line 1',which runs from the thermostatic element It to one side of the switchit.

Operation of the described novel parts willbe as follows: When the partsare in "011 position as in Fig. 1, the main valve will be closed,

closing gas pressure being eifective on the main valve B relieves maingas valve closing pressure,

and the main gas valve A immediately fully opens.

After slight room temperature rise, the room thermostat Breaks contactat H and the switch it being closed, the heating coil 25 is energized toenergize the bimetallic blade 26, and the blade moves the plunger 23 toopen the auxiliary valve E, admitting gas pressure to the subchamber 15.

Such pressure raises the partition wall l4 to close the boss I! againstits seat It, thus preventing escape by way of the aperture l1. Suchpressure-within the subchamber I! also is eflective upon the diaphragmI, tending to close the main gas valve. However, the head of the stud 30engages the flange II, limiting the closing motion of the main gas valveand thus locating the latter by means of the partition wall l4, inthrottling position. The parts are then positioned as in Fig. 3 and maingas flow to limited extent is admitted to the burner.

To predetermine the amount of such flow, I provide adjustment for theposition 01' the seat I8 against which the boss ll bears. As here shownfor the Purp se, the seat is carried by a nut 31 threade'dly mounted inthecover portion of the main gas valve body means as indicated.

76 After such throttling operation for a sumcient c period oi. time, theroom thermostat c breaks throttling operation of the burner may be hadafter a period of full operation in each complete burner cycle; 7nevertheless, when the burner comes on responsive to the" thermostat, itis always initially at full line pressure so that ignition is assured.Also, the total "on" period relative to oil'? period in the completecycle, will be increased, although with graduated eflect, so that a moreeven room temperature will be had, from the same thermostat, thanbefore.

Under certain conditions the normal operating cycle may vary forconsiderable periods between throttling and full on,i with onlyoccasional "of! periods; so that comfort is increased in the heatedspace, and burner noise, on? and oil, as

met in certain gases, is reduced.

For still more sensitive operation, the line b. which includes thethermostat contact I I, may be provided with a heating element 21 ofslight heating capacity and properly slight electrical resistancerelative to the motor 9 of the motorized valve 13, effective on theelement l3 of the thermostat C, to have heat anticipating effect uponthe thermostat. Such co l will be energized upon making of contact at iI and de-energized on breaking thereof, to decrease time lapsed beforecircuit is broken at such contact to initiate eifectiveness of theauxiliary valve E. I

While in the arrangement specifically shown, the described throttlingefiect is had responsive to the room thermostat C, the remotelycontrolled motor means of the auxiliary valve E having connection withthe thermostat C for the purpose, as will be appreciated by one familiarwith the art, throttling effect might be made responsive to conditionsother than those of room temperature.

For example, throttling operation might be had responsive to temperatureor pressure within a boiler subject to the main gas valve A. Thus toobtain throttling responsive to boiler pressure, the auxiliary valve Ecould be arranged for opening actuation by a diaphragm, havingconnection with the boiler, in place of the blade 28 and its coil 25responsive to the room thermostat. Similarly, as for 'a water boiler,the motor means of the auxiliary valve E could be arranged to beresponsive to temperature of the water within the boiler. Stillsimilarly and within the scope of this invention, the auxiliary valve Eand thus the throttling operation of the system,- might be maderesponsive to humidity, by a suitable remotely controlled motor for it.

The general arrangement just described lends itself to boiler control ofthe so-called gas type,

with slight modification as follows:

A slight leakage may be arranged effective at the check valve from thenear subchamber l5 to the far subchamber l6 when the check valve is inchecking position as in Figs. 2 and 3, the orifice eifect of suchleakage providing greater restriction at the check valve than theresistance from the subchamber I6 out through the exhaust connection 1.The auxiliary valve E is then ar ranged to have its effective openingmodulated responsive to boiler temperature or pressure in any mannerwhereupon the main valve A will 8, have corresponding modulating eflectupon main gas flow.

With the exception of theauxiliary valve E and its immediateconnections, both instaliation and servicing will be practically asheretofore in the art, since the main gas valve A, as improvediorthrottling effect according to this invention, replaces but a singlediaphragm valve unit in the prior art.

What I claim is:

1. In gas'valve means comprising body means having gas inlet and outletopenings and a valve port effective therebetween, and having a chamberwith a movable-wall portion. said wall portion having associated mainvalve means arranged to close said port responsive to pressure withinsaid chamber against said wall portion: a movable partition wallarranged to divide said chamber into a near subchamber partially boundedby said movable wall portion and a far subchamber separated from saidmovable wall portion by said near subchamber, said body means beingapertured to provide separate inlets to said sub chambers, and saidpartition wall being apertured to provide communication between saidsubchambers, check valve means associated with the aperture of saidpartition wall to check flow therethrough from said near subchamber tosaid far subchamber, and lost motion means interassociating said movablewall portion and said partition wall, to locate said main valve means inthrottling position responsive to pressure within said near subchamber.

2. In gas valve means comprising body means having gas inlet and outletopenings and a valve port effective therebetween,. and having a chamberwith a movable wall portion, said wall portion having associated mainvalve means arranged to close said port responsive to pressure withinsaid chamber against said wall portion: a movable partition wallarranged to divide said chamber into a near subchamber partially boundedby said movable wall portion and a, far subchamber separated from saidmovable wall portion by said near subchamber, said body means beingapertured to provide separate inlets to said subchambers, and saidpartition wall being apertured to provide communication between saidsubchambers, said body means and said partition wall being arranged forcooperation to provide a closed position of the partition wall apertureagainst said body means responsive to pressure within said nearsubchamber, and lost motion means interassociating said movable wallportion and said partition wall, to locate said main valve means inthrottling position when said partition wall aperture is closed.

3. In gas valve means comprising body means having gas inlet and outletopenings and a valve port effective therebetween, and having a chamberwith a movable wall portion, said wall portion having associated mainvalve means arranged to close said port responsive to pressure withinsaid chamber against said wall portion: a movable partition wallarranged to divide said chamber into a near subchamber partially boundedby said movable wall portion and a far subchamber separated from saidmovable wall portion by said near subchamber, said body means beingapertured to provide separate inlets to said subchambers, and saidpartition well being apertured to provide communication between saidsubchambers, a portion of said body means and of said partition wall.being arranged for 7 g cooperation to provide a closed position 0! thepartition wali'aperture against said body means portion responsive topressure within said near subchamber, lost motion means interassociatingsaid movable wall portion and saidpartition wall, to locate said mainvalve means in throttling position when said' partition wall aperture isclosed, and means for adjusting said body means portion to therebyadjust the amount of said throttling. 1

4. In gas valve means comprising body means having gas inlet and outletopenings and a valve port eflective therebetween. and having a chamberwith a movable wall portion, said wall portion having associated mainvalve means arranged to close said'port responsive to pressure withinsaid chamber against said wall portion: a movable partition wallarranged to divide said chamber into a near subchamber partially boundedby said movable wall portion and a far subchamber separated fromsald'movable wall portion by said near subchamber, said body means beingapertured to provide separate inlets to said subchambers, and saidpartition wall being apertured to provide communication between saidsubchambers, check valve means associated with the aperture of saidpartition wall to prevent iiow therethrough from said near subchamber tosaid far subchamber but permit flow in the opposite direction, and lostmotion means interassociating said movable wall portion and-said 8 vchamber with a movable wall portion, said wall portion having associatedmain valve means arranged to close said port responsive to pressurewithin said chamber against said wall portion:

a movable partition wall arranged to divide said chamber into a nearsubchamber partially bounded by said movable wall portion and a farsubchamber separated from said movable wall portion by said nearsubchamber, said body means being apertured to provide separate inletsto said subchambers, and said partition wall being apertured to providecommunication between said subchambers, check valve means associatedwith the aperture of said partition wall to permit relatively iree flowtherethrough from said iar subchamber to said near subchamber andrelatively slight flow from said near subchamber to said i'arsubchamber. and lost motion means interassociating said movable wallportion and said partition wall. to locate said main valve means inthrottling position responsive to pressure within said near subchamber.

, KEITH T. DAVIS.

nnraaanons CITED file of this patent:

partition to locate said main valve means in throttling positionresponsive to pressure within said near subchamber.

5. In gas-valve means comprising body means having gas inlet and outletopenings and a valve port eilective therebetween. and having a UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Number Name 4 Date 2,158,787 Lorenz et al.' May 16, 19392,184,511 Furlong July 4, 1939 2,244,555 Harris June a, 1941 2,282,765Bondurant et al. May 12, 1942 2,328,279 Jones -Aug. 31, 1943 2,377,517Ray 'June 5, 1945

